WIZARD GIRLS’ SOCCER TEAM: FINDING A WAY TO WIN

By DILLON SULLIVAN

From home games being switched to away games, not being able to practice on an actual soccer field, and losing tough, nail-biting games,  this season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Washingtonville girls’ varsity soccer team.  Through all this adversity, this team has been resilient and the girls have shown this throughout their incredible playoff run, as they find themselves in the section finals.

With the season off to a good start, the girls were optimistic at their chances for the rest of the season. Then the weather hit. Torrential downpours ruined the upper fields at Washingtonville High School, where the boys' and girls' soccer teams played their games. Due to practices being cancelled because the field was too rough to play on and the gym being booked, the team was not well prepared for their next stretch of games. Most of the girls’ home games had to be switched to away games due to the unplayable conditions on the field, giving the team more obstacles to overcome.

DILLON SULLIVAN FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

After all the misfortune, the team’s hard work finally paid off one fateful day in Warwick. The first time the girls had played Warwick, it was a blowout loss of 5-0. The second time around was not so similar, as Wizard’s midfielder Catrina Maltes scored in the middle of the game to give Washingtonville the 1-0 lead. Dropping back to play more defensively, the Wizards did not let up a score to Warwick and won the game with all the momentum in the section on their side.  

This win truly brought the team closer than ever.  “Our game against Warwick is what changed our whole season. We went from losing 5-0 to winning 1-0.  After that, we knew we could beat anyone,” voiced freshman midfielder, Amber McDermott. “That game is what made us the team we are right now.” 

Heading into the final few games of the season, the girls needed a few things to go their way for them to make it to the playoffs.  They did. The Wizards needed Monroe to beat Warwick. That happened.  Kingston and Monroe needed to tie. Check.  Everything fell into place as the Wizards slipped into the playoffs as the 6 seed, the lowest in the tournament. 

Their first playoff game was in Kingston, the 3 seed, a team they lost to 2-1 in overtime earlier in the season. Once again, the Wizards overcame adversity and ironically won 2-1 in overtime by a goal scored by junior forward, Tara Bendsak. “We started playing with more heart.  We realized how bad we wanted this and we put everything on that field,” expressed sophomore centerback, Sofie Sorensen. 

In the next game against 2nd seeded Valley Central, the girls went on the road again and came out with the victory with a score of 2-0. “In the postseason it really comes down to the team that wants it more will win. We by far have the most heart and I think we’ve definitely shown that through these past few games,” exclaimed Sorensen. 

The Wizards look to ride their momentum into the title game where they will matchup against Monroe. No matter the result, the team had an incredible season, and one everyone should be proud of.